Well drilling apparatus



May 16, 1933. u 1,908,734

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l J @MHM/ INYCh/TJR May 16, 1933. I Y J gun- 1,908,734

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 0 a: I: II 7/1 4 '2 67 Fl Z Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i JAMES CUTHILL, OF BRAMHALL, ENGLAND, ASSIG'NOR TO THE OIL WELL ENGINEER- ING COMPANY LIMITED, 015 STOCKEORT, ENGLAND VJ ELL DRILLING APPARATUS Application filed December 28, 1931, Serial No. 583,488, and in Great Britain September 30, 1931.

This invention relates to apparatus ror drilling deep wells for oil, water and the like, by the rotary method wherein the drilling tool is carried to the bottom. of the hole on a drill pipe rotated at ground level to the surface.

' In apparatus of the above class it is usual to operate the hoisting tackle from a type of winch known as a drawworks, provided with a drum having heavy brakes, by means of Which the gradual downward feed of the tool is controlled as it drills the hole. This method of applying the feed to the drill is subject to serious disadvantages owing to the fact that it depends entirely on the care and skill of the operator manipulating the brakes on the drum of the drawworks, and very serious troubles have occurred in the use of these brakes and in failure of the braking equipment under the very heavy loads which are customary in this method of drilling.

Methods have been devised to circumvent these troubles, one method being to apply an automatic feed to the mechanism of the drawworks; another is to arrange hydraulic feed- 7 ing cylinders incorporated in the design of the rotary table. Both these methods, h o v v-.

ever, involve costly and complicated apparatus, and it is accordingly one of the objects of the present invention to provide a simple apparatus which may be applied as an adjunct or accessory to the standard types of drilling equipment and by means of which a positive and safe feed control is provided. 7

Another object is to provide a means whereby gravity may be supplemented by a downward force applied to the drill pipe and to the drill tool when required.

A further object is to enable a direct indication to be obtainedof the suspended weight of the drilling string and by inference the weight or pressure being applied to the drilling tool at the bottom of the hole.

' Other and further objects and advantages attained by the invention will be pointed out hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the invention or its employment in practice,

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification I show one structural arrangement in which the invention may be embodied, but it is to be understood that this is presented for the purpose of 111118. tration only and is not to be accorded any interpretation having the effect of restricting the claims short of the true and most comprehensive scope of the invention in the art.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus showing generally its disposition in the drilling derrick.

Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section of one form of rotary swivel used in conjunction with the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the upper part'of the hydraulic cylinder showing the preferred form of piston.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan through the line A-A in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the lower part of the hydraulic cylinder showing the driving bushing.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-section through iihe cover of the hydraulic cylinder shown in Fig. 7 is an elevation, largely diagrammatic,'showing a section of the cylinder disposed below the rotary table.

Figs. Sand 9 are diagrammatic sectional views of the four-way valve employed for controlling the operation of the feeding device.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode, as applied by Way of example to a rotary drilling apparatus in which a rotary table is driven by gearing through a chain drive from a driving sprocket combined with the drawworks, and has in the centre of the rotating part of the table, indicated'by 1 in Figure 1 of the drawings, the usual square recess 2, a special driving bushing 3a is litted in the said table. This driving bushing forms part of a hydraulic cylinders 3 and replaces the usual driving bushing by means of which rotation is imparted to the drill pipe or to the customary square drill stem connected to the pipe. The lower end of the bushing 3a is closed by means of a cover 4 bolted thereto and provided with a hydraulic gland 5 containing packing 6, through which passes a hollow polished steel stem 7 having at its lower end the customary screwed connection 8 for the attachment of the drill pipe which is carried down the hole to the drilling tool. The stem 7 is finished by machinin or polishing to provide the least possible friction through the gland and also through the glands or parts of blow-out preventers customarily used when the operationshave to be carried out in the presence of considerable pressures within the well. The hydraulic cylinder 3 is formed of i iree sections wnich are bolted together as at 9 and the lower section is bolted to the driving bushing 3a. A top cover 10 also bolted in positionconstituies a closed cylinder.

It is to be particularly noted that the construction according to this invention .provides a means whereby any suitable or required length of hydraulic cylinder may be constructed to suit the operations being carried out, and it is also to be noted that if suilicient space is provided below the derrick floor, one or more sections of the cylinder may be disposed below the rotary table connected to the underside of the driving bush'ing as shown in Fig. .7. By .thismeans the heigl'it of the hydraulic cylinder maybe reduced correspondingly so as to provide va steadier drive.

The top cover 10 ofthe cylinder 3 .is secured in place by bolts 11 and is provided with .a square or splined hole 12 and a.gland.13;and hydraulic packing 14: through which the top driving stem 15 :passes to the piston. A holddown ring 16 is arranged on asuitably disposed shoulder 17 on the .top cover 10 and a ball-bearing 18 is placedbetween thering and the shoulder 17. The ring 16 carries two or more eyes 19 by means of which the collar may e tied downwards or laterally to suitable anchorages in the derrick framework or base.

The hollow driving stem 15 of square or splined section which passes through a cor respondingsquare or splined hole in-the top cover of the cylinder, is connected at its upper end to the stem of a rotary swivel, indicated generally at 20 in Figure 1,'having the customary connection 21 for the mud or other flush used in drilling which is supplied through flexible piping connections from pumps (not shown).

The rotary swivel 20 is provided with means whereby the mud flush maybe passed downwardly through the hollow driving previously referred to and to the lower stem and the drill pipe, and also includes connection means whereby hydraulic operating 'luid may be passed through the swivel and through small pipes arranged in the square driving stem to opposite sides of the piston within the hydraulic cylinder will be described hereinafter.

T-he piston 22 is provided with hydraulic packing 23 fitting closely to the walls of the cylinder 3 and has a central hole 24.- throughout its length. It is connected by the usual threaded means 25 to the lower end of the squared drive stem 15 and to the upper end of the lower stem 7. Vithin the central bore of the piston are two pipe connections comprising hollow screwed bolts 26 and 27 and elbow members 28 and 29. These communicate with the lower and upper sides of the piston respectively. Small pipes 30 and 31 located within the hollow driving stem are screwed into the elbows 28 and 29 and these pipes are connected at the swivel to flexible pipes 32, 33 connected in turn to fixed standpipes 3-1:, 35 arranged at the side of the derrick. The said standpipes are supplied with hydraulic fluid under pressure from a suitable source and the flow is controlled by a four-way valve 36 having an operating handle 37. A form of controlling valve is shown d-iagraunnatically in Figs. 8 and '9, in which referring to Fig. 9 the left-hand branch may be connected to the source of iluid pressure, the right-hand branch to exhaust, the upper branch to the upper side of the piston 22 and the lower branch to the lower side thereof.

The rotary swivel 20 comprises a tubular body portion or stem 88 attached by a screwed connection to the driving stem 15 and having at its upper end a screwed casing'39 joined to an upper ring 40. Within the said casing andseparate therefrom is an inner sleeve 41 which is hollow throughout its length and has .an integral collar 42 providing a seat for a ball bearing 43 which is interposed between the upper face of the collar 42 and an internal shoulder 44 of the upper ring 10. The .upper end of the inner sleeve is connected by a screwed joint 45130 a collar l6 which forms a flange and is attached by means'ofbolts 47 'to agoose-neck having a connection 21 for the admission of mud or other flush. The lower-end of the sleeve 41 is connected by means of a screwed joint 50 to a wash-pipe 51 which passes down-ward through a. gland '52 screwed into the body of the swivel and provided with packing The gland is secured by a locking ring 54;. Mud flash is thus permitted to flow from the connection 21 to the boreof the swivel body and thence to the hollow drive stem through the screwed connection while at the same time rotation of thebody of theswivel with respect to the inner-sleeve 41 and the gooseneck 48 is also permitted.

The top ring 40 of the swivel is adapted to receive a screwed collar 55 forming a lower bearing for the inner sleeve 41 and is held in position by a locking ring 56, thus maintaining the sleeve in position vertically.

Fitted in the top of the goose-neck 4:8 and rotatable therein is a manifold 57 of circular eross-section having two longitudinal passages 58, 59 which are screwed to the two small pipes 30 and 31 communicating respectively with the upper and lower sides of the hydraulic piston '22. The manifold is provided with a hydraulic gland 60 and packing 61 which prevents ingress or egress of pressure fluid. The top of the goose-neck 4:8 is provided with a flange 62 to which is bolted a cover 63 arranged to enclose within it an annular space surrounding the upper end of the manifold. The latter has a reduced upper end 64 containing an extension of the passage 58 which projects through a central opening in the cover 63 and communicates with an upper goose-neck 65 provided with a pipe connection 66 for the supply of pressure fluid. The upper end of the manifold 64 is surrounded by packing 67 and the upper goose-neck 65 is provided with a gland and packing 68. The annular space inside the cover 63 communicates with the passage 59 in the manifold and is also provided with a pipe connection 69 for the supply (or discharge) of pressure fluid. The goose-neck 65 is bolted to an upper flange 7 O of the cover 63.

By the means described above the pressure fluid from pumps or some other suitable source may be admitted to or discharged from either side of the piston of the hydraulic cylinder. Suitable valves may be fitted both to the cover 63 or to the upper goose-neck 65 for releasing trapped air, and

threaded connections for this purpose are provided at 71 and 72.

A pressure gauge 73 is fitted to the standpipe 35 which carries the hydraulic controlling fluid to or from the annular space below the piston in the hydraulic cylinder. This gauge is suitably calibrated to indicate the total weight suspended on the upper stem of the drill string by means of the pressure in the controlling fluid below the piston, and by inference the actual pressure which is be ing applied to the cutting edges of the tools at the foot of the well may be ascertained.

In operating the apparatus. the rotary swivel is suspended by the customary hoisting apparatus in the derrick by means of which it may be hoisted or lowered at will, together with the drilling equipment attached thereto. During the operation of drilling, however, it will be free from suspension by the said apparatus, but may be steadied in its vertical movement by means of suitable guys attached to the structure of the derrick.

The drill pipe and tools having been set in the usual manner in the hole and connected to the lower end of the hollow stem 7 which passes into the hydraulic cylinder 3, as previously described, the apparatus is placed in position in the rotary table 1 with usual mud flush pipe connected to the gooseneck 21 of the swivel and the hydraulic fluid supply pipes connected to their appropriate receiving means at the top of the swivel, the piston being near the top end of the hydraulic cylinder. pipe is then transferred from the hoisting tackle to the fluid below the piston, after which the operator may, by means of the four-way controlling valve 36, allow gradual egress of the controlling fluid from below the piston so that the drill pipe and tools move slowly downwards as the drilling progresses, the valve being set so that a predetermined and regular pressure is maintained on the The weight of the drill gauge. lVhen drilling has progressed to such an extent that the piston has reached the lower end of its stroke, it is again raised to the top by admitting pressure fluid below it and the apparatus is then removed from the rotary table, after which an additional drill pipe is added to the string in the hole and the operation repeated.

In the event of its being desired to supplement gravity by applying downward pres sure to the drill pipe in the hole, the cylinder 3 is first held down by means of guys tied to the eyes 19 of the hold-down ring 16 and attached to some convenient point on the derrick framework. By suitably controlling the admission of hydraulic fluid to the top of the pistonthe operator is then enabled to apply a variable downward pressure on the stem and to the drill pipe.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus described above in order to suit the variable conditons and requirements of practical working. 6

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is V 1. A rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotary table for driving a drill stem movably arranged therein, a fluid pressure feeding device for the drill removably fitted to the rotary table and means for supplying pressure fluid to said device through the drill stem.

2. A rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotary table for driving a drill stem movably arranged therein, a fluid pressure feeding device for the drill having a cylinder removably fitted to the rotary table and a piston associated with the drill stem, and means for supplying presless sure fluid to said device through the drill stem.

A rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described con'iprising a rotary table for driving a drill stem movably arranged therein, a fluid pressure feeding device for the drill having a cylinder formed and adapted to be received and driven by a rotary table of normal construction and a piston operatively associated with the drill stem, and means for supplying pressure fluid to said device through the drill stem.

al. A rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotary table for driving a drill stem movably arranged therein, a driving bushing adapted to be received and driven by said rotary table, a fluid pressure feeding device for the drill having a cylinder in driving connection with said bushing and a piston operatively associated with the drill stem, means forming a driving connection between said cylinder and the drill stem and means for supplying pressure fluid to said device through the drill stem.

5. A rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotary table for driving a drill stem movably arranged therein and a fluid pressure feeding device for the drill comprising a piston mounted on the drill stem, a cylinder cooperating with said piston and rcmovabiy associated with the rotary able and means for supplying pres sure fluid to said cylinder through the drill stem.

6. A rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotary table for driving a drill stem movably arranged therein and a fluid pressure feeding device for the drill comprising a piston forming part of the drill stem, a cylinder cooperating with said piston and in driving association with the rotary table, means affording a driving connection between said cylinder and the drill stem and means for supplying pressure fluid to said cylinder through the drill stem.

.7. In a rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described having a rotary table for driving a drill stem movably arran ed therein, a fluid pressure feeding device for the drill comprising a piston forming a part of the drill stem and a cooperating cylinder removably mounted in the rotary table.

8. In a rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described having a rotary table for driving a drill stem movably arranged there in, a fluid pressure feeding device for the drill comprising a piston attached to and connecting adjacent sections of the drill stem, a cooperating cylinder removably mounted in drivi association with the rotary table means forming a driving connection between one end of the cylinder and the drill stem and gland means surrounding the stem where it leaves the said cylinder.

9. A feeding device for a rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described com prising a cylinder formed and adapted to be removably received in the standard. recess of a rotary table and driven thereby, means on said cylinder for transmitting rotary motion to a drill stem passing thcrethrough and a piston in said cylinder adapted to form part of said drill stem.

10. A feeding device for a rotary well drillin apparatus of the class described comprising a cylinder having embodied in its construction a driving bushing adapted to be rcmovably received in the standard recess of a rotary table and being orovided at one end wi h means for transmitting rotary motion to a drill stem passing thcrethrough and a piston in said cylinder adapted to form part of said drill stem which is provided with means for conducting pressure fluid to and from the cylinecr.

11. A rotary well class dcsc drilling apparatus of the ed comprising a rotary table for driving a drill stem movably arranged therein, a fluid pressure feeding device for the drill having a cylinder removably seated in the rotary'table and a piston operatively associated with the drill stem, means for supplying pressure fluid to the device through the drill stein whereby both upward and downward pressures may be applied to said stem, and means adapted to aid in temporarily holding down the cylinder.

12. A rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotary tal'ile for driving a drill stem pass ng the ethrough, a fluid pressure feeding device for the drill having a cylinder rcmovably seated in the rotary table to be driven thereby and a piston attached to and forming part of the drill stem, means on the cylinder for transmitting rotary motion therefrom to the drill stem, means for supplying pressure fluid to the cylinder through the stem whereby both up ward and downward pressures may be applied to said stem, and means adapted to aid in maintaining the cylinder in seated position in the table when downward pressures are applied to the drill stem.

13. A feeding device for rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a cylinder formed to be removably seated in a rotary table and driven thereby, means on the end of said cylinder for transmitting rotary motion to a drill stem passing therethrmigh, a piston in said cylinder operativcly connected to the drill stem and means on said cylimler adapted to be tied or guyed to surrounding structure to hold the cylinder seated in the table while permitting rotation oi the cylinder. 7

14. A feeding device for rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described comprising cyinder having means adapted to be removabiy seated in the standard recess of a rotary table and driven thereby, means on the end of said cylinder for transmitting rotary motion to a drill stem passing therethrough, a. piston in said cylinder operatively connected to the drill stem and a member rotatably mounted on said cylinder, said member having eyes for the attachment of guy ropes thereto.

15. A rotary well drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotary table for driving a drill stem, a fluid pressure feeding device for the drill having a cylinder removably seated in the rotary table and apiston operatively associated with the drill stem, and means for supplying pressure flu d to said device through the drill stem, said cylinder being formed of a plurality of sections whereby its length may be varied as desired and certain sections may be disposed below the rotary table.

16. A feeding device for rotary well drilling apparatus of the class descrlbed comprising a cylinder adapted to be re novab'ly seated in a rotary table and driven thereby, means on the said cylinder for transmitting rotary motion to a drill stem passing therethrough, a piston in said cylinder operatively connected to the drill stem, and means for supplying pressure flu d to the cylinder through the drill stem, said cylinder being formed in sections, certain of which may, it desired, extend below the rotary table.

17. A rotary drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a hydraulip cylinder, a driving bushing connected to said cylinder and adapted to be seated in the usual recess of a rotary table, a piston in said cyhnder connected at its upper end to a square or splined driving stem arranged to shde 1n and be driven by a correspondingly shaped cover fixed to the cylinder, said piston being also connected at its lower end to a lower stem of circular section passing downwards through a gland in the lower cover of the hydraulic cylinder and adapted to be connected in the usual way to the drill pipe and tools.

18. A rotary drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a hydraulic cylinder, a driving bushing connected to said cylinder and adapted to be seated in the usual recess of a rotary table, a piston in said cylinder connected at its upper end to a hollow square or splined driving stem arranged to slide in and be driven by a correspondingly shaped cover fixed to the upper end of the cylinder, said piston being also connected at its lower end to a hollow lower stem of circular cross section passing downwards through a gland in the lower cover of the hydraulic cylinder and adapted to be connected in the usual way to the drill pipe and tools and means including a rotary swivel for passing mud flush through th hollow stems and drill pipe and also for supplying pressure fluid to the h draulic cylinder for controlling the feed of the drill.

19. A rotary drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a hydraulic cylinder, a driving bushing connected to said cylinder and adapted to be seated in the usual recess of a rotary table, said cylinder being formed in sections some of which may, if desired, be disposed both above and below said bushing, a piston in said cylinder connected at its upper end to a hollow square or splined drlving stem arranged to slide in and be driven by a correspondingly shaped cover fixed to the upper end of the cylinder, said piston being also connected at its lower end to a hollow lower stem of circular cross section passing downwards through a gland in the lower cover of the hydraulic cylinder and adapted to be connected in the usual way to the drill pipe and tools, and means for supplying pressitire fluid to the cylinder through the drill s cm.

20. A rotary drilling apparatus of the class described comprising a hydraulic cylinder, a driving bushing connected to said cylinder and adapted to be seated in the usual recess of a rotary table, a piston in said cylinder connected at its upper end to a hollow square or splined driving stem arranged to slide in and be driven by a correspondingly shaped cover fined to the upper end of the cylinder, said plston being also connected at its lower end to a hollow lower stem of circular cross-sectlon passing downwards through a gland in the lower cover of the hydraulic cylinder and adapted to be connected in the usual way to the drill pipe and tools, and a pressure indicator for indicating the pressure of the flu d below the piston from which the actual weight suspended by the piston may be known.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES GUTHILL. 

